President of the Conceição Parish Council since 2013, Gilberto Alvernaz paints a realistic picture of what is the most rural parish in the city of Horta, pointing out the main challenges as being the lack of funds, the aging population, the lack of infrastructure, and the pressure on real estate exacerbated by the increase in tourism. However, he also highlights the agricultural potential of the area and the ongoing efforts to ensure social responses to the community.

Correio dos Açores – What has been your experience as President of the Conceição Parish Council?

Gilberto Alvernaz (President of the Conceição Parish Council) – I took office as President of the Conceição Parish Council in 2013, so I have now served three terms.

As such, I have developed various skills in this area from both good and bad experiences, which have resulted in a positive experience.

How would you describe the parish of Conceição?

It is one of the three parishes in the city of Horta, but it is the most rural, making the parish council president’s job a little more demanding. It has a higher percentage of elderly residents, sometimes making supporting local institutions difficult. For this reason, our council has developed social projects, such as creating a community garden and developing the SOS Conceição Association, to respond to those most in need.

What are the main challenges, needs, and difficulties facing the parish?

Firstly, we need to fulfill our election manifesto, secondly, we need increased funding, and thirdly, we need to meet the various challenges that arise daily.

What is the most developed sector in the parish of Conceição?

The most developed sector is the passenger ferry terminal, which provides daily inter-island passenger services.

How has tourism grown in recent years? Has the number of local accommodations increased in Conceição? Is housing a problem in the parish?

Tourism has grown significantly, increasing the number of local accommodations in the parish, but housing prices are generally inflated across the island.

Are the funds sufficient to manage the parish throughout the year? Is there a lack of infrastructure?

Funding is insufficient given the number of commitments that arise daily. Yes, the parish needs a new sports hall, as the previous one, which belonged to a century-old parish club and was once used by the civil protection services, has been demolished. A new building is needed, given the high number of athletes, which now exceeds 500.

What are the conditions of the municipal roads? And what about the agricultural roads?

The municipal roads are in reasonable condition, but we have been working with the Horta City Council to improve the most affected areas and make them safer for road users. The agricultural roads, on the other hand, are in worse condition, but they are not our responsibility.

What are the typical dishes in the parish of Conceição? Is there a lack of restaurants/cafés?

The parish shares the same dishes as the rest of the island, and we have two restaurants and three cafés in the parish.

What are the conditions of the schools in the parish? Are there any specific activities or support for local youth?

The parish has no schools, but it has an after-school program and a scout group.

What support is available for the elderly in the parish? Are there any specific activities or services to improve their quality of life? Are there enough nursing homes?

The parish has a day center with around 40 users, where specific activities or services are provided daily to help improve the quality of life of these people. The only nursing home on the island is located in the neighboring parish of Matriz, but it cannot meet the number of requests.

In which sectors does the parish have potential for development?

The parish has potential for agricultural development due to its various farms and its geography, which protects it from increasingly frequent bad weather.

What are the expectations for 2025?

To conclude the municipal term with a sense of accomplishment about the electoral manifesto presented in the 2021 candidacy.

Filipe Torres is a Correio dos Açores newspaper journalist, and Natalino Viveiros is the director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.